Investig Magn Reson Imaging.  2023 Mar;27(1):32-41. 10.13104/imri.2022.1100.

Clinical Utility of Limited T2-Weighted-Only Lumbar Spine MRI in Pain Intervention Clinics

• Choi HU
• Lee E
• Lee JW
• Kim BR

• KMID: 2543028
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13104/imri.2022.1100

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to determine whether limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI is clinically available to patients visiting pain intervention clinic for radicular pain.
Materials and Methods
A total of 110 patients (mean age: 63.5 ± 16.1 years) with low back pain (LBP) or sciatica who underwent limited T2-weighted-only lumbar MRI using T2-weighted sagittal and axial sequences were enrolled. All MRI scans were reviewed by two radiologists for degenerative spinal lesions that most correlated with each patient’s symptoms. All patients received spinal injections. Treatment response was recorded based on patients’ subjective evaluations and an 11-point numerical rating scale. Clinical characteristics and changes in the diagnosis of patients who had undergone previous MRI or additional MRI within six months were also analyzed.
Results
Using limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI, acquisition time and cost for imaging examinations were effectively reduced. Pathologic lesions corresponding to clinical symptoms were detected in most (95%) patients. Symptoms had improved in 78.1% of patients at the 6-month follow-up. Further imaging work-up was not performed for any subject during the study period because there was clear indication (no doubt) for other diagnoses on the limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI or during the clinical follow-up.
Conclusion
Limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI comprising T2-weighted sagittal and axial images may sufficiently detect degenerative changes of the lumbar spine in patients with LBP and sciatica. Treatment responses are satisfactory, effectively reducing scan time and costs.

Keyword

Low back pain; Radiculopathy; Spine; Magnetic resonance imaging; Spinal injection